Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

Among her many other accolades, Dame Elisabeth was also awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia, and in 2005 she was named Victorian of the Year.

Dame Elisabeth felt the advantage of her wealth was the opportunity to do good for causes she felt passionately about, saying: "Wealth can be misused but generally speaking, it's a tremendous tool in helping the community."

She gave her name, influence and money to more than 100 Australian charities and organisations, and contributed millions of dollars to sick children, the arts, academia, medical research, the environment, and social welfare.

"We have lost the most wonderful mother but we are all grateful to have had her love and wisdom for so many years," he added in a statement released by News Limited.

"Throughout her life, our mother demonstrated the very best qualities of true public service. Her energy and personal commitment made our country a more hopeful place and she will be missed by many."

This morning Prime Minister Julia Gillard issued a statement extending her condolences to the Murdoch family.

"Dame Elisabeth Murdoch lived a great Australian life.

"Her example of kindness, humility and grace was constant. She was not only generous, she led others to generosity. Australia's children and Australia's artists have lost one of their greatest benefactors."

Early life

The youngest of three daughters, Elisabeth Joy Greene was born in 1909 and grew up on her family's Melbourne homestead, Pemberley, which was surrounded by an acre of gardens on Toorak Road.

She once said: "My world was my parents' garden."

Dame Elisabeth was spoilt by her father, Rupert, who encouraged his youngest daughter's ambition to join the circus.

Her father had a mischievous spirit, and even allowed her to puff on his pipe and chew tobacco.

But Dame Elisabeth's father struggled with gambling issues, which caused difficulties for her mother Marie as she struggled to keep the family fed and housed.

It was her mother's caring nature and concern for others that set an example Dame Elisabeth would carry throughout her life.

The Dame's compassionate nature was evident from an early age.

She was awarded a tour of the children's hospital after breaking its singlet-knitting record at the age of 16. Seeing howling babies emerging from operating theatre upset her so much that she vowed to do all she could to help children.

'Enjoying life'

Until recently, Dame Elisabeth was "hands on" in the gardens of her much-loved Cruden Farm.

When a hip replacement put an end to the digging and planting, she turned to a motorised buggy to get around, saying driving was her last outdoor sport.

"Although I am so old, really very old, people's assumptions are quite wrong. They don't realise that I still have the capacity to enjoy life," she told Andrew Denton in 2009.

Dame Elisabeth's number plates, "12", had been Sir Keith's when he had been courting her.

She found herself constantly discouraging young men who wanted to buy them, telling them: "I went to my wedding with these plates and I am going to my funeral with them."

During a 2008 interview when asked what her husband would have said of her life, Dame Elisabeth replied: "I think Keith would have been proud. I haven't wasted a minute of my life. I've made use of all the time, I think."

Dame Elisabeth is survived by three of her children - Rupert Murdoch, Anne Kantor and Janet Calvert-Jones - and by over 70 descendants.

Her eldest daughter, Helen Handbury, died in 2004.

The family will soon announce details of a private memorial service for Dame Elisabeth.

In her resignation from politics, Kelly O'Dwyer said she feared another miscarriage in Canberra, far from home. Her announcement is shocking for more than just party-political reasons, writes Emma A. Jane.